ACT records highest cannabis seizures in 2009–10

The Australian Crime Commission’s (ACC) Illicit Drug Data Report 2009–10 has revealed that cannabis accounted for over 99 per cent of the weight of drugs seized in the Australian Capital Territory in 2009–10.

The report shows that 740.9 kilograms of cannabis was seized in the ACT in 2009–10, an increase of 280.1 per cent from 2008–09. This is significantly higher than the national increase of 7.5 per cent.

“Cannabis has been the predominant illicit drug seized in Australia in the last decade. In 2009–10, cannabis accounted for 70 per cent of the total number and 76 per cent of the total weight of national illicit drug seizures,” ACC, Chief Executive Officer John Lawler said.

“Cannabis use has been linked to increased mental health problems. It is not a soft drug, cannabis use is costly to users and those around them and we need to continue to address its use in Australia.”

ACT Policing provided key data to the report, including information on illicit drug purity, seizures and arrests. Deputy Chief Police Officer David McLean welcomed the report, which is the 8th edition produced by the ACC.

“The report is the only report of its type in Australia and provides law enforcement agencies and interested stakeholders a national perspective of the illicit drug market,” Commander McLean said.

“The report provides statistics and analysis to assist law enforcement agencies in developing targeted, measured approaches to disrupting the illicit drug supply and implementing key harm reduction strategies.

“The targeting and apprehension of people who choose to manufacture, sell and possess illicit substances in the community is a priority of ACT Policing. Too often police see the devastation that is left behind when someone looses their life, or sustains significant difficulties due to drug use.”

Mr Lawler launched the ACC’s Illicit Drug Data Report 2009–10 at the Royal Perth Hospital today with burns specialist Dr Fiona Wood and Western Australia Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan.

Australian Capital Territory statistics are drawn from data provided by ACT Policing, the Australian Federal Police and Customs and Border Protection.

A copy of the report is available at www.crimecommission.gov.au.

Key findings from Illicit Drug Data Report 2009–10:

• Over 85 000 illicit drug related arrests were made in 2009–10 — the highest in the last decade.
• Drug types that recorded the most substantial increase in arrests over the last decade are cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), increasing by 91 per cent and 58 per cent respectively.
• The 63 670 national illicit drug seizures in 2009–10 is the second highest reported in the last decade.
• Over 7.8 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized nationally in 2009–10.
• A record 694 clandestine laboratories were detected — an increase of 55 per cent from 2008–09 and 245 per cent since 2000–01.

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